Farm Fresh

In my ongoing attempts to find fresh, local produce, I'm happy to say that I've finally hit the jackpot! Close to home, there's a wonderful farmer's market every Saturday morning that I've ventured to twice now. It's in the historic part of town -- extremely quaint and picturesque -- and full of little treasures. Artisans and farmers, florists and bakers all set up shop before the sun, (and tourists) rise. Shoppers stop by with cups of coffee in hand to stroll through the open air market and to see what a new week brings from the farm.
Two weeks in a row now, I've had luck finding pretty flowers. These hydrangeas are sitting on my dining table, and are the perfect late summer / early fall centerpiece.

And last night I made a farm fresh dinner, complete with tomatoes, eggplant, garlic and zucchini all from the market. It was a good choice on a rainy night: hearty and delicious, and smelled absolutely divine while cooking in the oven.

I'm hoping to continue the tradition of early Saturday morning trips to the market. It just feels good to be up early, enjoying the fresh air, taking in the sights of beautiful farm fare, and then reaping the benefits all week long. For me, it is the perfect start to the weekend.

Up Close and Personal

It's not everyday I have a brush with celebrity. So it's pretty exciting when I do have the chance to meet someone famous. Even more exciting when that person is the author of my favorite book! Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife, was in Washington, DC recently for an appearance at a local bookstore. She read from her new book and made time for questions.
She took a question from me!
And then signed my book! I was delighted!

Jam Session

I canned raspberry jam! Nine little jars of perfection, all done with the help of a great teacher.

My friend Joan taught me how to put all those raspberries to good use and now my pantry is stocked for the winter. I am hooked! And psyched! And can't wait to do more!

Faux Fall

All my people back in Western New York tell me it's cool and crisp there. The feel of fall is in the air, and the customary mums are showing up on doorsteps. Judging from the pictures, it certainly looks like fall. I know it must be, because football season officially started last week. However, I'm having a hard time believing. It's warm in Virginia, no leaves are changing, and I'm still in sandals, (after Labor Day, no less!). I decided to hunker down on Sunday, make a big pot of soup, watch football, and try to conjure up the feeling of autumn coziness. The plan was put into motion, but unfortunately nothing quite worked out. The Buffalo Bills lost against Miami, for one. And the soup I made fell far short of perfection. In theory, roasted garlic soup sounded perfect for my 'faux fall' day. The aroma of the garlic roasting in the oven certainly satisfied. The soup, however, did not. Unless you are a big fan of garlic. And by that, I mean you like to have the taste of garlic in your mouth for 48 hours post-soup consumption. Which I do not.

Rather than go into more detail about my failed attempts to have a New York-like fall day, I'll instead introduce you to one of my favorite blogs, and a successful attempt at cooking. Needing to use up the remaining produce I picked at the farm, I chose to make eggplant parmesan following this recipe. Eggplant parmesan is not something I would normally make, as I've never had luck with it, nor particularly liked it. But I had the eggplant and I had the tomatoes, so decided to give it a try Saturday evening. With a guest for dinner, it was a risky choice, but The Bitten Word boys did not steer me wrong. It was delicious! A must try for eggplant parmesan lovers and haters alike. The accompanying sauce was full of flavor, and the eggplant breading was crisp. Perfect meal for a late summer dinner. Because who am I kidding? It is still summer in Virginia.

My Job

Normally I wouldn't spend any a lot of time talking about my job, but I've had so many questions from so many people that I thought I'd take the opportunity to tell you how it's going.

I'm a librarian.

I work in a private boarding high school.

I used to work in a public high school.

I've been at the new job going on four weeks, so I've had time to make some observations. Pulling onto campus everyday is like leaving the real world behind.

There is a strong sense of tradition and history. The main administrative building was originally the home of Martha Washington's granddaughter.

Honor and spirituality are at the core of all decisions.

The student body is small, and the school community is extremely tight-knit. There is a lot of emphasis placed on decorum and intellectualism. There is also a strong athletics program.

Some perks of the job include using the facilities and dining on campus. The food, and the degree to which I've been welcomed into the community, are both impressive, (one is as important to me as the other!). At various points throughout the last four weeks I've felt lucky to have landed this job, and amazed by how different education can feel in this type of setting. So far it's going really well, and I'm happy I made the switch. Starting anew has been invigorating, rewarding, and if I'm not careful, fattening! Thank you for all your questions.

Long Weekend

One of my reasons for moving to Virginia was to be close to Washington, DC, but lately all I've been craving is some time away in the quiet of the countryside. Actually, to be more specific, I've been craving some cheap fruit and veggies. When I moved to Virginia, I left behind a vegetable garden and raspberry bushes, only to find out that good produce here is so expensive. Gone are the days of one dollar handfuls of zucchini, squash, tomatoes, beans, and most other summer vegetables. So in an attempt to find plentiful, homegrown, cheap vegetables, my friend Kevin and I planned an adventure to the countryside. We packed a picnic and drove west for about an hour, slowly watching the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia fade into rolling hills and fields aplenty.

It was the perfect summer day -- sunny with a refreshing breeze, and blue skies that stretched on for miles. My friends back in New York say it's beginning to feel like fall, but not here.

I did some research, and found a farm that offered a whole slew of picking options. Tomatoes, peppers, green beans, okra, bitter melon, eggplant, squash, peaches, blackberries, raspberries, and sunflowers. It was like having access to my own, albeit bigger, vegetable garden! I filled up my bag with goodies galore, and am happy to report the grand total was $5.90!

Even Frances was able to come along, and enjoy the sunshine.

The next stop after our picking adventure was Sky Meadows State Park, a lovely spot for a picnic and hike. We arrived at lunchtime, and were happy to find a spot of shade underneath a tree. Frances rested while Kevin and I enjoyed chicken sandwiches, fresh fruit, lemonade and complete tranquility. Feeling refreshed, we opted to follow a 'moderate' trail to the top of a hill -- hard climbing, but a view that was well worth the effort.

The day couldn't have been better, and now I have a tired pup -- always a pleasure -- and a bunch of produce. My plan is to combine yesterday's raspberries with those from my previous picking adventure, (which have been frozen) and make jam. I'd also like to make tomato sauce with my freshly picked plum tomatoes. Any tips on jam making, tomato sauce or canning are welcome! My adventures in the country will soon be turning into adventures in the kitchen.